Harnessing the blue skies and
seas;Magampura Port development speeds up

"I
am
determined
to make
our
country
the
centre
of the
Asian
silk
route
once
again
taking
advantage
of its
unique
geographical
location.
I intend
to
develop
it into
a
navigation,
aviation,
trading
and
commercial
centre
linking
the East
and
West".

This was
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa’s
vision
in
harnessing
the blue
skies
and seas
to
ensure
the
wellbeing
of Sri
Lanka’s
future
generations.

The
President’s
election
manifesto,
Mahinda
Chintana
places
much
importance
to the
development
of Naval
and
Aviation
services.
It
promises
that
Hambantota
will be
developed
as an
intermediate
(stopover)
harbour.

The
government
has,
therefore,
successfully
commenced
many
projects
related
to Naval
and
Aviation
services
around
the
country,
such as
constructions
of the
Oluvil
harbour,
Galle
harbour
and the
expansion
of the
Colombo
South
harbour,
and the
construction
of Sri
Lanka's
2nd
International
Airport
at
Mattala,
since
President
Rajapaksa
took
office.

With the
inauguration
of the
water
filling
in the
Magampura
[Hambantota]
Harbour
basin on
15th
August
2010,
international
ships
will
soon
enter
the
southern
Port
making
it Sri
Lanka’s
second
international
Port.

Addressing
the
large
gathering
at the
Karadiyawara
Mangallaya,
President
Rajapaksa
said,
"It is
not sea
water
that
will
fill
this
port,
but the
future
prosperity
of our
nation.
From
this
port
will
emerge
our true
economic
independence."

The
location
of the
Magampura
Port

Hambantota
is
within
10
nautical
miles of
the
world's
busiest
shipping
lane. It
is
ideally
located
at the
intersection
of major
international
sea
trading
routes.
Over 100
ships go
pass Sri
Lanka
daily
between
Europe
and the
Far
East,
necessitating
the
carrying
of a
large
quantity
of fuel
and
supplies
for the
journey,
which
could be
replaced
by cargo
if
servicing
is
provided
midway
at
Hambantota.

As a
Greenfield
site,
Hambantota
possesses
a
significant
advantage
in that
it can
be
planned
without
any
restriction
to
achieve
high
port
performance
and
productivity.

The
natural
depth
along
the
coastline
is
ideally
suited
for the
development
of a
deepwater
port.
The
approach
to the
port
does not
necessitate
a long
dredged
channel.

As a
strategically
situated
maritime
gateway
to India
(for
transshipment
container
cargo),
Hambantota
is very
well
positioned.
It is
better
located
than any
Indian
port to
act as
transshipment
centre,
because
of equi-
distance
to, and
ability
to serve
both,
the east
and west
coasts
of India
as well
as
Myanmar,
Bangladesh,
Pakistan,
and
smaller
countries
such as
the
Maldives.

Hambantota
enjoys a
very
good
geographic
location
to serve
domestic
trade,
with
direct
roadway
connection
to the
southern,
central
and
eastern
areas of
the
island.
In this
respect,
it is
better
located
to serve
the
southern
half of
the
island
than
Galle,
and it
enjoys a
unique
location
in the
Southern
Region
for
linking
to the
Central
and
Eastern
provinces
by road,
these
connections
are not
currently
in good
condition
and
would
have to
be
improved
for the
port to
develop
as an
important
domestic
trade
centre.

Hambantota
is quite
distant
from
Colombo
and
therefore
would
function
best as
an
independent
rather
than
overflow
port.

Considering
weather
conditions,
Hambantota
is not
subject
to the
cyclonic
activities
that
periodically
affect
the Bay
of
Bengal
and the
north-eastern
coast of
Sri
Lanka,
and it
does not
experience
the full
force of
the
South-West
monsoon.

Hambantota
has an
extensive
land
area for
expansion
and
labour-
related
activities
such as
port
related
industries,
warehousing
and
servicing.
This is
a unique
feature
that
provides
a
distinct
advantage
over
other
ports.
Thus,
Magampura
Port
will
soon be
one of
the
leading
naval
hubs in
the
world.

First
phase of
the
project

During
the
first
phase of
the
project,
construction
was
carried
out in
43
hectares
of
land.
Ships
with a
capacity
of
100,000
DWT will
be
facilitated
under
the
first
phase.

It is
significant
that all
preliminary
activities
of the
project
were
completed
within a
very
short
period
with the
participation
of local
and
international
experts
before
the
initial
target
date of
15th
April
2011.

Preliminary
studies,
data
collection,
feasibility
studies,
environmental
impact
assessment
and
detailed
engineering
designs
etc were
also
completed
within a
very
short
time.

The
Government
of China
is
funding
85%
through
the EXIM
Bank
while
the
Ports
Authority
is
funding
15% as
per the
contract.
The cost
for the
Phase 1
of the
project
is US $
360
million.

The main
construction
work of
Phase 1
commenced
on 15th
January
2008 and
the
project
duration
was
scheduled
for 39
months,
but it
was
completed
before
the
initial
target
date.

The main
construction
work
includes,
construction
of two
breakwaters,
excavation
of the
17 m
depth
basin
area,
dredging
of 210m
wide
entrance
channel,
construction
of a
service
berth, a
general
purpose
berth,
an oil
berth,
roads
and
buildings.

New
properties
and
housing
for
families
affected

All 450
families
in the
Karagan
Levaya
and
surrounding
areas
affected
by the
construction
of the
Magampura
Port,
have
been
provided
with
financial
assistance
and
lands as
compensation.
The
Ports
Authority
has also
provided
all
necessary
infrastructure
facilities
to those
who
received
lands.

Thus,
all
obstacles
have
been
removed
to
construct
the new
Magampura
Port.

Residents
of the
Hambantota
district
are made
aware of
the
benefits
of the
Magampura
Port
project
through
Seminars
and
workshops.

Second
phase of
the
project

Agreements
have
already
been
signed
for the
commencement
of the
second
stage of
the
Magampura
Port,
the
Ports
Authority
said.

Under
the 2nd
Phase of
the
project,
the
government
is
planning
to build
a 50
acre
island
in the
sea off
the
port. A
bridge
with a
height
of 8
meters,
roads
and
terminals
will be
constructed
to join
the
island
with the
mainland.

Once the
project
is
completed
the port
will
provide
services
such as
bunkering
facilities,
ship
repair,
ship
building
and
general
shipping
services
while,
‘Raw
Raw’
services
for
importing
and
re-exporting,
as well
as food
and
medical
assistance
will be
provided
for the
ships'
crew
arriving
at the
Magampura
Port.

Port
authorities
are also
expected
to
provide
crew
members
to ships
and
function
as a
transit
centre.

The aim
of
Mahinda
Chintana
to
upgrade
Naval
and
Aviation
services
in Sri
Lanka is
now
becoming
a
reality.
The Port
of
Magampura,
once
completed,
will
provide
a gamut
of
services
to
function
as an
international
naval
centre.

The
project
will
help
fulfil
the goal
of
making
Sri
Lanka a
naval
hub in
the
world,
to face
regional
challenges,
and
attract
foreign
revenue
and
investments.